80 FR 20219 - NEXUS Gas Transmission, LLC, Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Nexus Gas Transmission Project and Texas Eastern Appalachian Lease Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 72 (April 15, 2015)

Page Range		20219-20222
FR Document		2015-08560

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 72 (Wednesday, April 15, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20219-20222]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08560]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. PF15-10-000; PF15-11-000]

NEXUS Gas Transmission, LLC, Texas Eastern Transmission, LP;
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the
Planned Nexus Gas Transmission Project and Texas Eastern Appalachian
Lease Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice
of Public Scoping Meetings

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that
will discuss the environmental impacts of the NEXUS Gas Transmission
(NEXUS) Project and Texas Eastern Appalachian Lease (TEAL) Project
involving construction and operation of facilities by NEXUS Gas
Transmission, LLC (NEXUS) in Ohio and Michigan and Texas Eastern
Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) in Ohio. The projects are separate,
but connected, interstate natural gas transmission pipeline projects.
The environmental impacts of both projects will be considered in one
EIS, which will be used by the Commission in its decision-making
process to determine whether the NEXUS and TEAL Projects are in the
public convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies on the projects. Your input will help the Commission staff
determine what issues they need to

[[Page 20220]]

evaluate in the EIS. We \1\ ask you to focus your comments on the
potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures
to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your
comments, the more useful they will be. Please note that the scoping
period will close on May 22, 2015.
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\1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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You may submit comments in written form or verbally. Further
details on how to submit written comments are in the Public
Participation section of this notice. If you sent comments on the NEXUS
or TEAL Projects to the Commission before the opening of the dockets on
January 9 and 26, 2015, respectively, you will need to file those
comments under Docket No. PF15-10-000 or PF15-11-000 to ensure they are
considered as part of this proceeding. In lieu of or in addition to
sending written comments, the Commission invites you to attend any of
the public scoping meetings scheduled as follows:

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Date and time Location
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Tuesday April 28, 2015, 6:00 p.m.......... Midview Middle School, 12865
Grafton Road, Grafton, OH
44044, (404) 748-5331.
Wednesday April 29, 2015, 6:00 p.m........ Wadsworth High School, 625
Broad Street, Wadsworth, OH
44281, (330) 335-1400, x5.
Thursday April 30, 2015, 6:00 p.m......... Louisville High School, 1201
S. Nickelplate, Louisville,
OH 44641, (330) 875-1438.
Tuesday May 5, 2015, 6:00 p.m............. Tecumseh Center for the
Arts, 400 North Maumee,
Tecumseh, MI 49286, (517)
423-6617.
Wednesday May 6, 2015, 6:00 p.m........... Swanton High School, 601
North Main Street, Swanton,
OH 43558, (419) 826-3045,
x1.
Thursday May 7, 2015, 6:00 p.m............ Fremont Ross High School,
1100 North Street, Fremont,
OH 43420, (419) 334-5434.
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We will begin our sign up of speakers at 5 p.m. The scoping
meetings will begin at 6 p.m. with a presentation by Commission staff
on our environmental review process, after which speakers will be
called. The meeting will end once all speakers have provided their
comments or at 10 p.m., whichever comes first. Please note that there
may be a time limit of three minutes to present comments, and speakers
should structure their comments accordingly. If time limits are
implemented, they will be strictly enforced to ensure that as many
individuals as possible are given an opportunity to comment. The
meetings are recorded by a stenographer to ensure comments are
accurately recorded. Transcripts will be entered into the formal record
of the Commission proceeding. The Commission will provide equal
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form
or provided verbally at the scoping meeting.
NEXUS and/or Texas Eastern representatives will be present one hour
prior to the start of the scoping meetings to provide additional
information about the projects and answer questions.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for the NEXUS and TEAL Projects. State and local
government representatives should notify their constituents of this
planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities. The company
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if
the Commission approves the Project, that approval conveys with it the
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with
state law.
NEXUS and/or Texas Eastern provided landowners with a fact sheet
prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On
My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' This fact sheet addresses a number
of typically-asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and
how to participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is also
available for viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov).

Summary of the Planned Projects

NEXUS and Texas Eastern plan to construct and operate about 256
miles of interstate natural gas transmission pipeline and associated
facilities in Ohio and Michigan. The general location of the NEXUS and
TEAL Projects are shown in Appendix 1.\2\
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\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in
the Federal Register. Copies of the appendices were sent to all
those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at
www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
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NEXUS is proposing to construct the following Project components:
About 200 miles of new 36-inch-diameter natural gas
pipeline in Columbiana, Stark, Summit, Wayne, Medina, Loraine, Erie,
Sandusky, Wood, Lucas, and Fulton counties, Ohio;
about 50 miles of new 36-inch-diameter natural gas
pipeline in Lenawee, Monroe, and Washtenaw counties, Michigan;
about 1.2 miles of new 36-inch-diameter interconnecting
pipeline \3\ in Columbiana and Carroll counties, Ohio;
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\3\ An interconnecting pipeline is a shorter pipeline that
connects one natural pipeline system to another natural gas pipeline
system or a customer.
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about 0.2 mile of new 30-inch diameter interconnecting
pipeline in Columbiana County, Ohio;
installation of up to130,000 horsepower (hp) of
compression at four new gas turbine compressor stations, one each in
Columbiana, Medina, Sandusky, and Lucas counties, Ohio;
a total of 4 metering and regulation stations, three in
Columbiana County, Ohio and one in Washtenaw County, Michigan; and
various launchers, receivers, mainline valves, and other
appurtenant facilities at assorted locations along the planned system
in Ohio and Michigan.
Texas Eastern is proposing to construct the following Project
components:
About 4.5 miles of new 36-inch-diameter natural gas loop
pipeline \4\ in Monroe County, Ohio;
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\4\ A loop pipeline is a pipeline that is constructed adjacent
to another pipeline and is connected to it at both ends.
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one new compressor station with 18,800 hp in Columbiana
County, Ohio;
additional 9,400 hp of compression and piping
modifications at one existing compressor station (Colerain Compressor
Station) in Belmont County, Ohio; and
launchers, receivers, and various piping modifications at
2 existing regulating and receiver sites in Monroe County, Ohio.
According to the applicants, the projects would provide up to 1.5
million dekatherms per day of natural gas to various markets in the
U.S. Midwest and Canada. The Project would tie into existing
infrastructure and include

[[Page 20221]]

capacity on existing pipeline systems to serve customers in Ohio and
Michigan, as well as customers in Illinois (the Chicago area) and
Ontario, Canada (the Dawn area). If approved, NEXUS and Texas Eastern
propose to commence construction in the first quarter 2017 and place
facilities in service on November 1, 2017.

Land Requirements for Construction

Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 3,200
acres of land for the pipeline and aboveground facilities. The typical
construction right-of-way for pipeline facilities would be 100 feet
wide, with additional workspace needed in some locations due to site-
specific conditions. Following construction, the applicants would
maintain about 1,600 acres for permanent operation of the Project's
facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to
former uses. About 60 percent of the pipeline route parallels existing
utility rights-of-way. Land affected by construction but not required
for operation would generally be allowed to revert to former uses.

The EIS Process

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us
to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals.
This process is referred to as scoping. The main goal of the scoping
process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the important
environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public
comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EIS. We will
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EIS.
In the EIS we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the planned projects under these
general headings:
Geology and soils;
water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
vegetation and wildlife;
migratory birds and endangered and threatened species;
land use and cumulative impacts;
socioeconomics;
cultural resources;
air quality and noise; and
public safety.
We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned projects
or portions of the projects, and make recommendations on how to lessen
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
Although no formal applications have been filed, we have already
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing process.
The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before
the FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we
have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss their
involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EIS.
The EIS will present our independent analysis of the issues. We
will publish and distribute the draft EIS for public comment. After the
comment period, we will consider all timely comments and revise the
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. To ensure we have
the opportunity to consider and address your comments, please carefully
follow the instructions in the Public Participation section beginning
on page 7.
With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues
related to these projects to formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the EIS.\5\ Agencies that would like to request
cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing
comments provided under the Public Participation section of this
notice. Currently, no agencies have expressed their intention to
participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS.
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\5\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act

In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation
with the Ohio and Michigan State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO),
and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies,
interested Indian tribes, and the public on the Project's potential
effects on historic properties.\6\ We will define the Project-specific
Area of Potential Effects in consultation with the SHPOs as the Project
develops. On natural gas facility projects, the Area of Potential
Effects at a minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground
disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way, contractor/
pipe storage yards, meter stations, and access roads). Our EIS for
these projects will document our findings on the impacts on historic
properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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\6\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register for Historic
Places.
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues

We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities and
the environmental information provided by NEXUS and Texas Eastern. This
preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and our
analysis:
Impacts on residents and property values in close
proximity to the planned pipeline and compressor station sites,
including the exercise of eminent domain and future land use
restrictions;
impacts on agricultural land, particularly from
constructing across drain-tiled land;
impacts on surface water resources including springs,
seeps, and wetlands;
impacts on groundwater resources and wells;
impacts on threatened, endangered, and candidate species
(including the Indiana bat, northern long-eared bat, and eastern
massasauga) and other sensitive species (including the eastern
hellbender);
safety issues, such as construction and operation of the
planned facilities near existing residences, schools, and businesses;
socioeconomic issues, such as job creation; and
alternatives, including routing to avoid or minimize
impacts on Oak Openings, fruit farms, a Girl Scout Camp, soccer fields
used by the Green Soccer Association, and a southern route to avoid
residential areas in and around the City of Green, Ohio.

Public Participation

You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the Project. Your comments should focus on
the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and
measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific
your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly recorded, please send your comments so
that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before the
end of

[[Page 20222]]

the scoping period, which will close on May 22, 2015. This is not your
only public input opportunity; please refer to the Environmental Review
Process flow chart in Appendix 2.
For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the
appropriate project docket number(s) (PF15-10-000 for the NEXUS Project
or PF15-11-000 for the TEAL Project) with your submission. The
Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert
staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or [email protected].
(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature located on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the
link to Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for interested
persons to submit brief, text-only comments on a project;
(2) You can file your comments electronically using the eFiling
feature located on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the
link to Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments
in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your
submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking
on ``eRegister.'' You must select the type of filing you are making. If
you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select
``Comment on a Filing''; or
(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC
20426.

Environmental Mailing List

The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the projects. We will update the environmental mailing list
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the
planned projects.
Copies of the completed draft EIS will be sent to the environmental
mailing list for public review and comment. If you would prefer to
receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD version or would
like to remove your name from the mailing list, please return the
attached Information Request (Appendix 3).

Becoming an Intervenor

Once NEXUS and Texas Eastern file applications with the Commission,
you may want to become an ``intervenor,'' which is an official party to
the Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the
process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard
by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling.
An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a
request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in
the User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web
site. Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for
intervenor status at this time. You must wait until the Commission
receives a formal application for the Project.

Additional Information

Additional information about the Project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the
FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number,
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF15-
10 or PF15-11). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range.
For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
[email protected] or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to
the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

Dated: April 8, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-08560 Filed 4-14-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 72 / Wednesday, April 15, 2015 / Notices 20219

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY completion of all necessary reviews, and Commission) and will not have the right
the subsequent need to complete all to seek court review of the
Federal Energy Regulatory federal authorizations within 90 days of Commission’s final order.
Commission the date of issuance of the Commission The Commission strongly encourages
[Docket No. CP15–133–000] staff’s FEIS or EA. electronic filings of comments, protests
There are two ways to become and interventions in lieu of paper using
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; involved in the Commission’s review of the ‘‘eFiling’’ link at http://
Notice of Application this project. First, any person wishing to www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file
obtain legal status by becoming a party electronically should submit an original
Take notice that on March 27, 2015, to the proceedings for this project
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC and seven copies of the protest or
should, on or before the comment date intervention to the Federal Energy
(Columbia), filed an application with stated below file with the Federal
the Federal Energy Regulatory regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 NE., Washington, DC 20426.
Commission pursuant to sections 7(b) of First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426,
the Natural Gas Act (NGA) requesting a motion to intervene in accordance Comment Date: April 29, 2015.
authority to abandon by sale to with the requirements of the Dated: April 8, 2015.
Mountaineer Gas Company certain Commission’s Rules of Practice and Kimberly D. Bose,
natural gas facilities located in Cabell Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) Secretary.
and Putnam Counties West Virginia. and the Regulations under the NGA (18 [FR Doc. 2015–08552 Filed 4–14–15; 8:45 am]
Specifically, Columbia requests CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party
authority to abandon by sale BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
status will be placed on the service list
approximately 16.15 miles of its Line maintained by the Secretary of the
SM–108 and associated apprutences as Commission and will receive copies of
well as the service currently provided DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
all documents filed by the applicant and
through the facilities. Additionally, by all other parties. A party must submit Federal Energy Regulatory
Columbia requests that the Commission seven copies of filings made in the Commission
find the facilities, once sold, exempt proceeding with the Commission and
from the Commission’s jurisdiction must mail a copy to the applicant and
pursuant to section 1(b) of the NGA. [Docket Nos. PF15–10–000; PF15–11–000]
to every other party. Only parties to the
This filing is available for review at proceeding can ask for court review of NEXUS Gas Transmission, LLC, Texas
the Commission in the Public Reference Commission orders in the proceeding. Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of
Room or may be viewed on the However, a person does not have to Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Commission’s Web site web at http:// intervene in order to have comments Impact Statement for the Planned
www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. considered. The second way to Nexus Gas Transmission Project and
Enter the docket number excluding the participate is by filing with the Texas Eastern Appalachian Lease
last three digits in the docket number Secretary of the Commission, as soon as Project, Request for Comments on
field to access the document. For possible, an original and two copies of Environmental Issues, and Notice of
assistance, contact FERC at comments in support of or in opposition Public Scoping Meetings
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call to this project. The Commission will
toll-free, (886) 208–3676 or TYY, (202) consider these comments in The staff of the Federal Energy
502–8659. determining the appropriate action to be Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Any questions regarding this taken, but the filing of a comment alone Commission) will prepare an
application should be directed to will not serve to make the filer a party environmental impact statement (EIS)
counsel for Columbia, Tyler R. Brown, to the proceeding. The Commission’s that will discuss the environmental
Senior Counsel, Columbia Gas rules require that persons filing impacts of the NEXUS Gas
Transmission LLC, 5151 San Felipe comments in opposition to the project Transmission (NEXUS) Project and
Suite 2500, Houston, TX 77056 by provide copies of their protests only to Texas Eastern Appalachian Lease
telephone at (713) 386–3797 or by email the party or parties directly involved in (TEAL) Project involving construction
at tbrown@nisource.com. the protest.
Pursuant to section 157.9 of the and operation of facilities by NEXUS
Persons who wish to comment only
Commission’s rules, 18 CFR 157.9, Gas Transmission, LLC (NEXUS) in
on the environmental review of this
within 90 days of this Notice the Ohio and Michigan and Texas Eastern
project should submit an original and
Commission staff will either: complete Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) in
two copies of their comments to the
its environmental assessment (EA) and Ohio. The projects are separate, but
Secretary of the Commission.
place it into the Commission’s public connected, interstate natural gas
Environmental commentors will be
record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or transmission pipeline projects. The
placed on the Commission’s
issue a Notice of Schedule for environmental impacts of both projects
environmental mailing list, will receive
Environmental Review. If a Notice of will be considered in one EIS, which
copies of the environmental documents,
Schedule for Environmental Review is will be used by the Commission in its
and will be notified of meetings
issued, it will indicate, among other associated with the Commission’s decision-making process to determine
milestones, the anticipated date for the environmental review process. whether the NEXUS and TEAL Projects
Commission staff’s issuance of the final Environmental commentors will not be are in the public convenience and
necessity.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

environmental impact statement (FEIS) required to serve copies of filed
or EA for this proposal. The filing of the documents on all other parties. This notice announces the opening of
EA in the Commission’s public record However, the non-party commentors the scoping process the Commission
for this proceeding or the issuance of a will not receive copies of all documents will use to gather input from the public
Notice of Schedule for Environmental filed by other parties or issued by the and interested agencies on the projects.
Review will serve to notify federal and Commission (except for the mailing of Your input will help the Commission
state agencies of the timing for the environmental documents issued by the staff determine what issues they need to

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Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:13:32
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:13:32

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
FR Citation		80 FR 20219

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 72 (April 15, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission